793.94/3765: Telegram
The Consul General at Nanking (Peck) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 31—2:44 a.m.]
21. Following is a translation of a note addressed to the American Minister and handed to me January 30, 11 p.m., with request that it be transmitted as soon as possible to Department. Chinese Foreign Office has released this translation of text to press:
“January 30, 1932. Monsieur le Ministre: Since the unprovoked Japanese military occupation of Mukden on September 18, 1931, Japan has been continuously pursuing, in the Three Eastern Provinces and the other strategic centers of China, her aggressive and positive military policy and has now even invaded Shanghai, the international trade center of China. On January 28 at 1:45 p.m. the reply of Mr. Wu Tieh-chen, the Mayor of Greater Shanghai, in reference to the four demands of Japan, was accepted by the Japanese Consul General with satisfaction; but at midnight of the same day, Admiral Shiosawa, commander of the Japanese Overseas First Squadron, delivered an ultimatum to the Shanghai municipality demanding the immediate withdrawal of the Chinese troops for the occupation of the Japanese forces; at the same time the Japanese military forces took the initiative, rushed into Chapei district and attacked the Chinese troops with machine guns, and since then have been directing their attack continuously up to the 29th. Over 20 Japanese planes bombarded incessantly and indiscriminately along Chapei, the thickly populated district of Shanghai, causing the said district to be in a state of conflagration and resulting in the killing of countless civilians. Furthermore, the local administrations, transportation facilities, the Chinan University, the Commercial Press, various cultural organizations and principal commercial enterprises have all been totally or partly destroyed. Up to this moment they are still carrying on their hostile actions in flagrant violation of the Nine-Power Treaty of 1922 as well as the Briand-Kellogg Antiwar Pact and the Covenant of the League of Nations and in utter disregard of the various resolutions adopted by the Council of the League of Nations.
Such actions not only place the lives and properties of all nationals residing in Shanghai in great danger but also constitute a direct menace to the very foundation of humanity and civilization. It is obvious that Japan should bear the entire responsibility.
The Chinese Government, by observing the resolutions of the League Council, has been exercising great restraint and toleration under various provocative and hostile actions, but Japan, disregarding our forbearance, [Page 135] suddenly instructed their marines to attack Shanghai and menace our National Capital. In deliberately aggravating the situation by military action on the part of Japan, the Chinese authorities are compelled to take necessary measures of self-defense and for the upholding of her sovereign rights.
With Shanghai in such a critical situation, the other places of China can be placed in great peril at any moment. Japan’s violation of the Nine-Power Treaty is impairing the sovereignty and independence as well as the territorial and administrative integrity of China. As Your Excellency’s Government is the sponsor of the said treaty I have the honour to urgently request that you will cable Your Excellency’s Government to observe their solemn pledges and obligations of the said treaty by adopting prompt and effective measures in order to prevent further Japan’s military actions within Chinese territory and all other such acts on her part as are in violation of the said treaty so that its sanctity may be preserved and peace in the Far East maintained.
I avail, et cetera, Lo Wen-kan, Minister of Foreign Affairs.”
Repeated to Legation.